The 2016 Lexus RC Coupe is now in Australia, and it brings with it a budget-friendly price tag and a new turbo petrol engine.

The Lexus RC200t brings the starting price of the Lexus coupe down to a new level, starting from $64,000 plus on-road costs. That price slots the 200t Luxury model below the existing RC350 Luxury, which has seen a price jump to $67,000 from $65,610. See below for a full breakdown on pricing.

The Japanese brand’s competitor to the likes of the Audi A5 and BMW 4 Series now follows the same lead as its European rivals with its forced-induction 2.0-litre engine forming the basis of its offering.

The new turbo engine – a 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo unit that has seen a mild power bump over the existing outputs in the NX200t. It has 180kW of power and 350Nm of torque, which sees it run a little short of the V6 (233kW/378Nm). Fuel use, though, is a sight lower: 7.3 litres per 100 kilometres versus the V6's claim of 9.4L/100km.

The rear-drive RC200t Coupe has an eight-speed automatic gearbox as standard, with paddleshifters on all variants.

Lexus Australia chief Sean Hanley said the new entry-level model will offer buyers who are “coming up to luxury” a sporty option – and the brand predicts that 40 per cent of all RC models sold from next year will be turbo versions.

“The RC200t is positioned as an entry-level coupe alongside 350 and indeed the RC F. It comes with a high level of standard performance and luxury features,” Hanley said.

The brand has made some amendments to the RC350 range, too, with the addition of active cruise control, pre-collision safety, and a system called “Acceleration Sound Control” that pumps engine noise in to the cabin.

The V6-powered F Sport model also has a limited slip differential, as well as the addition of variable gear ratio steering and rear-wheel steering. The F Sport V6 model – and all three versions of the 200t turbo version – have a “front performance damper” system that stiffens the front end and, in the turbo models, is designed to also aid the refinement.